I am eagerly waiting for you in TV debate, Raila to Uhuru

I am eagerly waiting for you in TV debate, Raila to Uhuru

The Opposition National Super Alliance (NASA) presidential candidate, Raila Odinga, now says he will participate in a televised debate against Jubilee Party’s Uhuru Kenyatta that was slated for Monday, July 10 but postponed to July 24.

His decision comes just a few hours after the High Court sitting in Mombasa quashed presidential contestant Abduba Dida’s request to be incorporated in a debate that originally was to pit Raila against Uhuru, who are deemed the leading contenders in the State House race.

“NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga welcomes the ruling this morning by the High Court allowing Debate Media Ltd and the Presidential Debate Secretariat to proceed with their proposed debate plans. This allows all presidential candidates the opportunity to present their ideas to Kenyans and the worlds,” said Odinga’s adviser Salim Lone in a statement to newsrooms.

“At the same time, the two main contenders for the presidency will be accorded more time to speak to the country on their records and vision. Mr Odinga is looking forward to this one-on-one debate with relish, and he urges the President to accept this opportunity to debate him on multiple national crises now facing Kenya.”

President Kenyatta had on Wednesday, July 5 said he would not take part in the televised debate, which was originally slated for July 10, saying that his office had not been consulted by the debate organizers.

Raila Odinga would, a few hours after President’s withdrawal from the debate follow suit, insinuating he could not engage “non-equals” in the presidential race.

The High Court on Friday morning (July 7) dismissed a case by presidential hopeful, Abduba Dida, seeking to stop the Presidential debates over claims of exclusion.

High Court Judge, John Mativo, threw out the case by Dida ruling that it lacked merit.

Dida, had moved to court seeking to stop the presidential debates slated for July 10 and 24, 2017.

Dida said that the presidential debates guidelines were discriminatory, in bad faith and contrary to the Constitution of Kenya 2010.

In his petition, Dida said that it is in the interest of justice that all the presidential candidates be afforded same status as by law provided when they are outlining their visions for the country on the 10th and 24 of July 2017.

He said that his rights have been violated specifically for being subjected to guidelines that essentially treat him as a second class presidential candidate.

“A declaration that all presidential candidates are equal with regards to articulating their manifestos and during such public debates,” argued Dida.

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